The sunlight in this world glinted redly from glass windows and tiled roofs. It didn't look like home at all, but at least there was light, Souji reflected, tapping at the cobbles with the toe of one shoe. He'd been growing tired of Traverse Town's dark sky.

Behind him, his new Pricklemane burbled. He turned around, crouching to hold a hand out to it.

"Come along, now! Doesn't this look like a nice place? We can explore!"

It hopped forward, eying his hand and the surrounding world with suspicion. Would Hijikata be too annoyed if Souji named another pet after him? All that long hair and paranoia... he'd never have to know.

The Pricklemane nudged his hand, then hopped forward again and nudged his knee with a sharp-edged tuft of mane. Souji picked it up, straightening to his full height, and turned to look around the new world once more. He'd run into a few of those "Nightmares" the others had described to him in Traverse Town, and there was a plain wooden stick tucked into his waistband against the next set he might encounter. Perhaps daylight meant there were not as many here? Or, perhaps, it just meant there would be different ones.

Movement caught his eye -- a boy, maybe Tetsu's age, with a wild shock of yellow hair and two Spirits in tow. Maybe-Toshi the Pricklemane wriggled in the crook of his arm, demanding to be let down.

"Hello!" Souji called to the boy, giving in and setting his own Spirit back on the ground. It bounced excitedly toward them, gathering speed. "I'm sorry, he's very spirited!"